Vikings Roster Countdown: No. 94 Dean Lowry — Experienced Veteran Addition

Lowry spent seven seasons with the Packers and now joins their biggest rival.

Will Ragatz | Jul 11, 2023

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Minnesota Vikings

Ahead of the Vikings' 2023 training camp beginning in late July, we'll be taking a look at every player on the 90-man roster, counting down from 99 to 0 (excluding the UDFAs, who we already profiled). For every player, we'll look at the best and worst-case scenarios and their realistic outlook for the upcoming season.

No. 94: Dean Lowry, DT/DE

Age: 29 | Size: 6'6", 296

After seven seasons with the Packers, Dean Lowry joined their biggest rival this offseason on a two-year deal. The former Northwestern standout will help the Vikings fill the void on their defensive line left by the departure of Dalvin Tomlinson. Lowry isn't the same caliber of player or even the same type of player as Tomlinson, but he brings valuable experience, durability, and versatility to his new team.

A fourth-round pick in 2016, Lowry appeared in 111 regular season games with 80 starts for the Packers across seven years. His 482 defensive snaps last season were his fewest since his rookie year, ending a four-year run with at least 600 annually. Lowry can play both end and tackle in a 3-4 scheme and give you quality reps as a run defender and pass rusher. He's not a spectacular player, but he's big, strong, athletic, and unlikely to make many mistakes.

PFF liked Lowry more early in his career, but he did have a big 2021 season for the Packers, setting career highs in sacks (5.0), pressures (42), and passes defended (4) across 17 games. Lowry has also appeared in eight career playoff games with Green Bay.

Best-case scenario: Lowry plays 600-700 snaps as a starter up front and gives the Vikings solid performances week in and week out. Something like a 70 PFF grade with 4-5 sacks and great run defense is the peak outcome here.

Worst-case scenario: He's mediocre enough that he falls behind players like Khyiris Tonga and Jonathan Bullard on the depth chart at DT.

Outlook for 2023: Giving Lowry $8.5 million over two years was an understandable move for the Vikings in the wake of losing Tomlinson. He should fit Brian Flores' 3-4 scheme well and provide a high floor at his position, even if he doesn't bring much in terms of ceiling. Lowry is an established veteran who doesn't have a particularly big range of outcomes. He'll likely hold down a starting job all year unless someone younger comes and takes it from him.

Previous Vikings player profiles

Danielle Hunter | D.J. Wonnum | Harrison Phillips | Ross Blacklock | Khyiris Tonga

UDFAs

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Published Jul 11, 2023

WILL RAGATZ